Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no medical evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation from service, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Board finds the current hearing loss more likely due to natural progression after military service rather than noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, radiculopathy of the left leg, PTSD, and prostate cancer, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective August 19, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and is remanding the issue of a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are pending as additional evidence or clarification is needed.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was not received to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, and bilateral ear disabilities. The claim for bilateral ear disability other than hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo is readjudicated as having been supported by new evidence.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year after receiving the August 2019 rating decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded to obtain additional in-service audiogram results.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was previously denied in June 2021. The Veteran submitted new evidence, but it was not considered relevant or new and did not change the outcome of the case.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active military service, including noise exposure. The decision grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error in obtaining an adequate examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but his bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient analysis of service treatment records regarding auditory changes during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss, as well as the right and left foot disabilities. Service connection was denied for hypertension, respiratory disorder, tooth disorder, and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim for right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss was granted. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have begun during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is advised to cooperate with the new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, but his claim for tinnitus was granted.